The head of Britain's trade union movement has issued a stark warning to the Labour government: unless living standards improve significantly by the time of the 2026 elections, the party will lose further ground to Nigel Farage's Reform party.
Living Standards the Key to Defeating Reform
TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said that Keir Starmer must directly confront the pressures of the cost of living, which are heaping misery on households across the nation. Millions are set to vote next year in Scottish and Welsh parliamentary elections, as well as local council contests across England.
Nowak emphasised that Labour needs to take on Nigel Farage and his party head-on, bluntly stating that "working class people can't afford Reform." He argued that if people do not start to feel more financially secure, they will continue to be drawn to what he termed Reform's "hollow promises."
Polling Reveals Public Priorities
This warning comes alongside a Deltapoll survey for The Mirror, which reveals the overwhelming public concern about household finances. The poll found the cost of living is the most important issue facing Britons and their families by a significant margin.
Voters want it to be Prime Minister Keir Starmer's top priority in 2026, followed by improving the NHS and tackling immigration. When asked about government priorities, 61% cited controlling the cost of living, with 55% prioritising the NHS and 41% focusing on reducing immigration.
Other issues trailed far behind, with growing the economy on 34%, cutting crime on 17%, and fixing public services on just 13%.
Farage Branded a "Disaster" for Working People
Paul Nowak did not mince his words when describing the threat posed by the Reform UK leader. "Nigel Farage would be a disaster for working class people in this country," he said. "It'll send Britain into a cul de sac, a complete dead end, economically and politically."
He praised Starmer for having branded Reform's immigration plans as "racist" in September, drawing a link between Farage's rhetoric and the activities of far-right figures. "There is a straight line between the rhetoric that Farage uses and the likes of Tommy Robinson," Nowak stated.
However, he was careful to distinguish between the party's leadership and its voters, noting: "Does that mean that those who vote Reform are racist? Absolutely not. I understand there are lots of people who voted Reform because they're frustrated with mainstream politics."
The TUC leader acknowledged that Labour has made missteps since taking office, referencing botched disability benefit cuts and the abandoned plan to slash the winter fuel allowance. He urged the government to stop apologising and start shouting about its achievements, particularly its workers' rights programme which became law before Christmas.
"It's absolutely essential they stick to the timetable, and it's absolutely essential that we've got a full fat employment rights bill, not a watered down Diet Coke version," Nowak insisted, highlighting policies on sick pay, parental leave, and protection from unfair dismissal.
He dismissed internal Labour party speculation about leadership, telling ministers: "Don't forget the day job." The focus, he argued, must remain relentlessly on proving the economy works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.
The Mirror's poll underscores the scale of the challenge. It found that 37% of voters are pessimistic about their household finances over the next year, expecting things to get worse. Only 20% believed their situation would improve.
In response, Labour MP Rosie Wrighting said: "Tackling the cost of living is the priority of our Labour Government... everyone across government will be focussing relentlessly on this throughout 2026." A party source added that while wages are £500 higher than a year ago, the government is determined to ensure working people "feel better off."
